Resolution & Adventure Medals

When Captain Cook set out on his second voyage in 1772 he carried with him a series of medallions which have come to be known as the Resolution and Adventure Medals. The medals, which take their name from Cook’s ships, were the brainchild of Joseph Banks, a prominent scientist who accompanied Cook on his first voyage.

The purpose of the medals was twofold; firstly they acted as a souvenir for an English public who were still buoyant following Cook’s first successful voyage. Secondly, they provided Cook and his party with a ‘calling card’ to distribute amongst the natives in the countries they visited. During this period in world history there was fierce competition between European nations to discover unknown lands and so having a tangible way to prove they were the first in a particular region was paramount.

The medals are believed to have been designed by William Barnett and were minted in London by Boulton & Fothergill prior to Cook’s departure. The obverse side features the head of King George III (as well as his titles) while the reverse side features Cook’s two ships, the Resolution and the Adventure, as well as the departure date, March 1772. Interestingly, the voyage did not depart until July of 1772 as the boats had to be rebuilt after the additions Joseph Banks had requested to accommodate his guests were deemed impractical. As a result of this Joseph Banks did not accompany his medals on this voyage.

There were two thousand bronze and brass medallions struck. These medallions were either struck as a medal (and so at one stage also featured a suspension loop) or were struck as coins. As the suspension loop is often missing an easy way to tell the difference is to turn the medal on its horizontal axis, as if it is being suspended from a chain or ribbon. If the images on both sides are the same way up then it is a medal strike, if the reverse is upside down it is a coin strike. Interestingly, all modern Australia coins are medal strikes. The bronze and brass medals were also struck on a die which had a small crack running across the word March on the reverse.

As well as the two thousand bronze and brass medallions there were also a series of silver and gold medallions minted. Unlike the bronze and brass ones, which accompanied Cook on his voyage around the world, the silver and gold medals remained in England. There are two reported figures for the quantity of silver medals struck with some believing the number to be in the 140s while others believe the number to be closer to 100. Either way there were only two gold medals minted.

Very few of the bronze and brass coins that Cook and his men distributed on their voyage have been discovered. In New Zealand, a primary base for the voyage, fewer than ten medals have been found, while only one has been found in Australia, on the coast of Tasmania. It is believed that many of the medals were melted down or used as a form of trade amongst the native peoples who were given them, scattering the medals around the world.

For more information on this medal please contact us.